Film-developing apparatus



May 2? 1924.,

v. DE YBARRONDQ FILM DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 192] Vz'mwzi C. 0 49 Y .4 TTORNEKJ".

Patented May 27, 1924.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT C. D! YBLBBONDO, L08 ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

nmr-nnmorme APPARATUS.

to motion picture film.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means b which a large amount lm may be deve oped in a small amount of space.

A further object of the invention is to rovide an apparatus by which the film may readily inserted and withdrawn from the apparatus. 7

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodi ment of my invention, a portion thereof being broken away to illustrate the interior structure.

Fig. 2 is a section on a plane represented by the line 22 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an enlar ed view showing a portion of the mechanism.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a tank 11 is provided with a cover 12 which forms a light-tight closure with the tankll. Means, not shown, are provided for securing a. plurality of film magazines 13 to one end of the apparatus and reels 14 may be secured to the other. The film before passing to the reel 14 passes through a throat 16 having) an opening in the bottom thereof covered y ruby glass 17 through which an electric lam '18 illumihates the film, the illuminate film being viewed through an eyepiece 19 containing a ruby glass. '1

Secured in fixed supports 20 inside the upper rtion of the case 11 are axles 21 on which a series of fixed axle spools 22 are .free to turn. There are as many of these fixed axle spools in one series as'"there are film magazines 13. Stub shafts 26 are se-' curedin bearings on one side of the case and stub shafts 27 are secured in bearings on the other side of the case, u per sprockets 28 turning freely on the s afts 26 and 27.

Application filed January 4, 1921. Serial No. 484,895.

Turning freely in bearings 29 at the bottom of the tank 11 are cross axles 30 on which sprockets 31 are secured. Passing over each of the sprockets 28 and its corresponding s rocket 31 which is directly ,below it, is a c ain 32. The chain 32 pasing over the sprocket 28 on each shaft 26 and the similar c ain assing over the sprocket 28 on the shaft 2 havin the same axis as said shaft 26 constitute a pa1r and due to the fact that these chains each pass over a sprocket 31 on thesame shaft 30, these chains move in unison. Secured to each of the chains 32 is a bearing block 33. These blocks are so placed that the bearing block on each chain 32 is in line with a similar block carried by the other chain of the pair. J ournalled in each pair of bearing blocks is a movable axle 34 upon which a series of movable axle spools 35 are free to turn. There are as many movable axle spools 35 in each series as there are fixed spools 22 in each series. Each of the shafts 26 is provided with a handle 40 outside the tank 11.

The method of operation is as follows:

The cover 12is removed. The chains 32 are actuated through the cranks 40 to raise the movable axles 34 to their extreme upper position which is slightly above the osition shown in Fig. 3. All of the mova le axle spools 35 are then in their extreme upper position and the film 50 may be passed 1n a straight line through the apparatus passing over all of the spools 22, under all of the spools 35 and being finally secured in the reel 14. The cover 12 is then replaced. The cranks 40 are then successively operated, each of the shafts 34 being moved downwardly forming a loop in the film, the length of this loop depending upon the depth of thetank 11 and the distance between the sprockets 28 and 31.

In practice, a large number of films may be developed in multiple. In the drawing only five of film magazines 13 are shown, but this number may be increased as desired.

In forming the loops, I prefer to form the loop at the extreme right of the box 11, as viewed in Fig. 1, first, the loops to the left being then formed in successive order. After all the loops have been formed, suitable solutions may be run to and from the tank through the pipes 51 and 52.

In practice, my device has a great utility in developing positive films which have been said chains and the other end printed from the same negative under the 7 same conditions. These films, being duplicates of each other as to exposure-and so forth, may be treated in batches, fifteen or twenty or more of such positive films being often desired from a single negative.

By providin the means for forming the loops shown, V Y

uickly fill one of the tanks with film. The 1m can be inspected at any time" by wind ing it on the reel 14 until a previously submerged portion gets oppositethe eyepiece 19, I claim as my invention: 1". In a film' developing apparatus, the combinationofpatank; a p'airof spools turning about an axis fixed with relation to said tank; two chains, one passing over sprockets at onesidewf said tank, and the other passing over-sprockets at theother. side of said tank; means for insuringsaidchains moving together; a movable axis spool; a shaft for said spool and means for supporting one end of said shaft on one of of said shaft on the other of said chains. P .7 2. In a film developing apparatus, -;the combination of: a tank; a pair ofspools turning about an axis fixed with relation to one passing over said tank; two tchains i said tank, and the.

sprockets at one'side 0 other Passing over sprockets at the other side 0 said tank; a shaftupon which one sprocket of one chain and a homologous sprocket of the other chain are l'i dly mounted; a movable axis spool; a sha said s 001; and means forv supporting one end 0 said shaft on one of said chains and the other-end of said shaft on the other of said chains.

3. In a. film developing apparatus, the combination of: a tank; a pair of spools turning about an axis fixed with relation to said tank; two chains one passing over sprockets at one side of said tank, and the other assing over sprockets at the other side of said tank; a shaft situatedat the bottom of said tank and passing transversely across said tank upon which one sprocket of one chain and a homologous sprocket of the other chain are rigidly mounted; a movable .axis spool; a shaft for said spool; and means for supporting one end of said shaft e operator is able to very for .said tank; two chains% onev passing over sprockets at one side 0 other passingover sprockets at theother side 0 said tank; means situated outside said tank by which said sprockets may be manually actuated; means or insuring said chains moving together; a movable axis spool; a shaft for said spool; and means for supporting one end of said shaft on one of said chains and the other end of said shaft on the'other of said chains;

5. In afilm developing 'apparatus, the combination of: a tank; a pair of spools turning about an axis fixed with relation to said tank; two chains, one passing over sprockets at one side of said tank, and the said tank, and the other passing over sprockets at the other turning about an axis fixed'with relation t0 16 said tank;'two chains, one' passing over sprockets at one side of said'tank, and the other passing over sprockets at the other side 0 said tank by which said sprockets may be manually actuated; a-shaft situated at the bottom of said tank-and passing transversely across said tankupon which one sprocket of one chain and a homologous sprocket of the other chain are ri idly mounted; a movable axis spool; a sha for said s 001; and means for supporting one end 0 said shaft on one of said chains and the other end of said shaft on the other of said chains. a

In testimon whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at s Angeles, California, this 28th da of December, 1920.

NCENT C. on YBARRONDO.

said tank; means situated outside. 

